Rue McClanahan, 76, who played “mature” Southern sexpot Blanche Devereaux on the hit TV series “The Golden Girls,” died this morning from a stroke.

The beloved actress had battled a few health issues in her life, including breast cancer, heart bypass surgery earlier this year, then a mild stroke while recuperating from the procedure.

She was still recovering when she suffered an additional massive stroke on Monday and died at 1 a.m. Thursday, according to her manager.

McClanahan worked steadily before and after her Emmy-winning stint on “The Golden Girls.” The actress was equally at home in comedic and serious roles and forged a career that spanned nearly 60 years.

She began on the stage in the ’50s in off-Broadway productions before making the transition to film and television, including parts on the hit series “All in the Family,” “Maude” and “Mama’s Family.” After “The Golden Girls,” she surprised fans by taking on dramatic roles in “Touched by an Angel” and “Law & Order.”

Though she stood a petite 5’ 3”, McClanahan was larger than life to viewers of “The Golden Girls,” which ran from 1985-1992. The series ended nearly two decades ago but remains popular thanks to reruns.

The actress had a sense of humor about herself -- which was made clear in her autobiography My First Five Husbands…and the Ones Who Got Away, published in 2007. She remained married to husband No. 6, actor Morrow Wilson, until her death. They were married on Christmas Day, 1997.

McClanahan, known to close pals as Ruesy, was also a poster girl for cancer survival. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997, then underwent a lumpectomy and six months of chemotherapy. After that successful battle, McClanahan began lecturing to cancer support groups on “aging gracefully.”

McClanahan, an honorary director of the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), was a vegan along with being a dedicated animal rights activist. She supported organizations dedicated to the fight against cancer, AIDS as well as cruelty to animals until her death.